One of the races I have on the calendar for 2019 is the Backcoutry Rise 50k race which starts at the Mt StHelens Science and Learning Center, travels along the edge of Coldwater Lake and then heads up hill into the real backcountry area where there's mountain lakes, amazing views and wildlife to be seen.
The run was hosted and organized by Daybreak Racing and North West Dirtchurners so a big thanks to Jeremy and Shane for hosting this race preview run. There were about 25 of us in the group.
I've been to a lot of mountainous and back country location, lakes, beaches and forests, but the area around Mt StHelens has to be my favorite. The pictures below just cant do the amazing scenery justice.
The group run covered 18 miles of the 20 mile race route. The 50k route heads further into the mountains and I'm looking forward to seeing than during the race.
Below are some pictures from the first higher point after clearing the forests trail and lake side.
Coldwater Lake is below this ridge.
Looking over the valley
Dusty dry trails all the way when up higher. Every where you look there's a view of some sort.
A few miles further along we stopped to regroup.
Even more scenic views.
We were higher up into the mountain side at this point.
Mt StHelens. You can see all the dead trees pointed in the direction of the blast which occurred on May 18th 1980.
The pointed summit in this picture is Coldwater Peak, myself and one of the other runners decided to go to the summit to add a few more miles to the run and for a higher 360 degree vista.
This is the top of Coldwater Peak, there's two peaks up there and this is Yassine heading between the two of them to the high point.
Sign showing the elevation. 5,727 feet ASL
Me with Mt StHelens behind me.
Mt Rainier in the background.
I don't have pictures that turned out showing them all, but Mt Hood, Mt Addams & Mt Rainier were all clearly visible from this mountain top.
The gray part in the lake below is sun bleached dead trees still there from the 1980 blast when they were pretty much all snapped off at about 6 feet from the ground and left there like bones. Over time the snow and ice melting causes them to slip into the water. Most of the lakes have dead trees in them.
Heading back down to the lake the temperature was rising and heating the ground so It was a bit hot for my liking. Being a bit higher up increased the intensity of the sun a bit more too.
Screen print of the map showing the route.
Elevation profile.
Overall it was a great day out. The three hour drive out to the location was well worth it.
Brianne and I will be going there some time soon so I can show her the location beyond what she has already seen there.
Thanks for reading my blog. More adventure runs and race reports to come in the near future.
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